+Re: The obsession with dangling

[Guest guest]

I definitely think trying to redirect is a good thing to do, but that

is not always possible. I think to a point the stimming serves a

purpose, and I don't totally restrict him from doing it(plus that

would be impossible -but if I let him stim as much as he wants

to, I don't think he would be where he is today(I know he wouldnt).

I think the hardest part of redirecting him is the time and energy it

takes. I can't be there all the time when he is stimming and sit down

with him and engage him in a different activity. So thats hard. We

are lucky to have a habilitation worker that spends a lot of time

with him, at his preschool and our home, and she is more strict with

him about stimming. But she is there specifically for him and has the

time to work with him.

But I have seen him open up alot more and learn so many different

things that he would otherwise not because of the stimming. So for

him, that is what is working best for us right now.

But he fits it in wherever he can- lately he has been digging in his

pajama drawer inthe morning when he wakes up and he will come out of

his room shaking 1 pair of pajama bottoms in both hands:). And he has

his favorite animals that dangle just right, I usualy put those on

top of entertainment center, and when he sees them he will ask for

his 'monkey'(also a good way to get him to communicate. And I will

let him play with them for a bit. Ihave noticed the less he stims,

the less he seems to need to.

Anyway, thats our story!

(mom to Ethan, 5)